Woman sues owners of dog killed by her pit bulls

Published 12:39 pm, Saturday, November 15, 2014

TEXAS CITY — A Texas woman whose four pit bulls entered her neighbors’ yard through a hole in the fence and killed their 10-year-old beagle is suing them for $1 million.

Emerald White says in her lawsuit filed this week in Galveston County district court that she was “seriously injured” on Oct. 27 trying to stop the attack and retrieve her dogs. She says she suffered “multiple serious bite and scratch-type injuries” and accuses her neighbors of failing to securely confine and restrict their dog, Bailey.

White also contends she’s feeling “conscious pain and suffering and now suffers also from fear, anxiety and trepidation.”

Bailey’s owner, Steve Baker, told The Galveston County Daily News (http://bit.ly/1xrtxoU ) that everyone was telling him to sue White but that he didn’t because it wouldn’t bring Bailey back and the police declared her dogs dangerous.

“The police took the action I wanted and declared those dogs dangerous and awareness was raised, so I decided to let it go,” Baker said. “Now they’re suing me for $1 million — I just can’t believe it.”

Each of the animals must be registered with Texas City annually as a dangerous dog. A sign must be posted in White’s yard alerting residents of the danger and she must have a $100,000 liability on the dogs, according to police. A fence at least 6 feet high must also be installed.

Baker said that not long before the incident he had worked to replace parts of the current fence to make it more secure and safe for his dog and family.